Leandra Chandri-18 (District 6 Female)
I'm starting to think that stopping here for the night might have been a mistake. Then again, it's pretty clear that stopping anywhere was gonna be a mistake. Even though we really didn't have a choice.
It was dark, we were all tired, and Dana and Sentri had been at each other's throats for hours. It got so bad at one point that Dana nearly punched Sentir in the face for breathing too loud in her general direction.
In short, it was a total disaster, and stopping for the night so they could get away from each other was the only option I had. And it worked; for about fifteen minutes.
That's how long it took for Dana to hear something and decide to go and check it out. And, being who he is, Sentri offered to go with her. She told him no, he asked if she was sure, she took that as an attack, and now all hell has broken loose.
Which, if I'm being honest, really shouldn't surprise me.
Like I said, they've been at each other's throats all day. It was only a matter of time before one of them snapped. Especially since neither one of them has slept much in the last three days.
I just wish they would have waited a few more hours to do it.
"I'm not an idiot, Sentri," she growls, her voice low and annoyed, her eyes burning with rage as she squares up on Sentri with her fists clenched tightly to her side, "and I'm tired of you treating me like one."
"I'm not treating you like an idiot, Dana," he says, his voice tinged with exhaustion. "I just asked if you were sure you didn't want me to go with you. There's a difference."
"No, there's not," she growls, her face flush with anger, her voice rising sharply with every word as her temper takes control. "You may not have had the guts to just come out and say it. But you implied it.
"And now you're trying to cover your butt because you know I'll beat the snot out of you if you don't take it back."
"I'm not trying to cover my butt, Dana. I'm trying to be a good ally. But if you don't want my help, that's fine. You can go poke around in the dark all by yourself if that's what you want. I won't stop you," he says, his tone indicating that he's finally had enough of arguing with her and is ready to move on. And that's a good thing.
Because at this point, I think we're all ready to move on. All Sentir has to do is apologize, and we can put this mess behind us and get some sleep.
I know he doesn't want to apologize — especially since he thinks he shouldn't have to — but he doesn't have a choice. He knows that's the only way Dana will let this go, and she has to let it go if we're gonna move past it.
So why isn't he apologizing to her?
"Is that all you have to say to me, Sentri?" she finally asks, her tone smug and expectant.
"Do I need to say something else?" he asks, genuinely confused.
"Yes. ..."
"Like?" he asks, the confusion in his voice melting away as he starts to realize where this is going.
"Like, I'm sorry, Dana?"
"And why would I say that?" he asks, his face a mask of calm, confident indifference.
"Because you were acting like an ass, and you should apologize for it," she growls, her voice low and menacing as she shoots him a look that's equal parts question and threat. "Didn't your parents teach you any manners?"
"Ok, that's enough," I say, my voice calm but firm as I jump up and put my hand on Dana's shoulder to calm her down. "Dana, all Sentri did was ask you a question. There's no reason to bite his head off for that."
"You're taking his side?!" she asks, her voice low and surprised, her body seething as she looks up at me with a look of hurt and betrayal burning in her eyes. "Seriously?!"
"I'm not taking his side, Dana," I say, my tone warm and reassuring, my eyes soft and understanding as I take a deep breath and give Dana's shoulder a gentle little squeeze.
"Why not?" he asks, his voice tinged with sarcasm and anger. "You know she's wrong. Why don't you just come out and say it?"
"Because you're just as much to blame for this as she is," I coo, a small, playful smile on my lips as I reach up and ruffle Dana's hair affectionately. "Dana may have been wrong to see your question as an attack. And she was definitely wrong to bite your head off for asking it. But you're the one who chose to escalate the argument."
"Excuse me?"
"You could have just said ok after she told you she didn't want your help and left it at that. And if you had, none of this would have happened," I remind him, my smile fading into a neutral expression as I turn to face him. "So why didn't you?"
"You're blaming me for this?! Seriously?""
"No, I'm blaming both of you. But you should have known better," I mumble, my attention faltering as my ears pick up the faint sound of pinging and muffled voices in the distance. Maybe Dana really did hear something?
But I don't have time to worry about it. Not when I'm trying to keep the two of them from killing each other.
"So should she."
"That's a fair point,"I ask, my tone flat and neutral as I wrap my arm protectively around Dana's shoulder. "But that doesn't change the fact that you're the one who caused the escalation. So, why'd you do it?"
"Because I'm tired of putting up with her crap, Leandra!" he snaps, his body tensing, his voice dripping with disgust as he digs his fingers into his palms so hard he draws blood. "I've gone out of my way to be a good ally, and she's treated me like shit every step of the way. You both have. And I'm sick of it!
"I could have left you guys high and dry after the bloodbath, but I didn't. I should have left after you murdered Oz, but I stayed. Hell, I even babysat the little brat while you were having a mental breakdown," he sneers, his fingers coated in his own blood.
"I could have slit her throat and left you to die, and no one would have blamed me. But I didn't!
"I stayed, and you owe me for that! Both of you do!"
I didn't ... I didn't know he felt that way. I should have, but I didn't.
I've been so focused on myself and Dana that I haven't given Sentri a second thought. And I should have.
Oh. My. God. Is this ... is this my fault?
"We don't owe you shit, coward," coos Dana, her voice low and amused, her words dripping with venom despite the surprisingly sweet little smile on her face.
"Excuse me?"
"I said we don't owe you shit. Coward."
"Dana, that's enough," I whisper, my voice low and panicked, my attention quickly snapping back to the here and now as I see Sentri tense up and take a step toward Dana. "You're not helping."
"Why would she?" he sneers, his eyes burning with disgust as I force myself between him and Dana, my hand wrapped tightly around the hilt of my knife. "And why do you even care? You've done nothing but make excuses for the spoiled little brat since I met you guys. Why would you stop now?"
"I'm not a brat, Sentri!" she screams, her arms flailing as she tries and fails to push past me so she can hit him.
"Who are you trying to fool, Dana? Me? Or yourself?"
~CRACK~
Alfonso Cadel-18 (District 1 Male)
"I'm telling you there's nothing out here," I say, my eyes watering as I fight back the urge to yawn as we continue to wander aimlessly through the arena in search of ... whoever or whatever it is Ariadne thinks we're gonna find out here. "We're wasting our time."
"And I'm telling you, I heard shouting," mumbles Ariadne, her unopened sponsor gift slung snuggly across her back, a throwing knife clutched tightly in her hand. "And besides, aren't you the one who complained that we weren't doing enough of this crap?"
"Doesn't ring a bell," I lie, my voice light and playful, my eyes drifting up to the stars twinkling softly in the dark sky above us as we slowly make our way towards the last little hut we have to check before going back to the main square to wait for Helena and SB. "Are you sure it wasn't you or SB who said it?"
"Has anyone ever told you you're an ass?" she asks, rolling her eyes in annoyance as she stops a few feet away from the hut and waits for me to do my thing.
"Once or twice," I laugh. "Though most of the ass-related comments I get are compliments about how amazing mine looks," I joke, a flirty smile on my lips and a suggestive twinkle in my eye as I walk up and give my ass a playful flex before kicking open the door with a dramatic humph.
~CRACK~
"After you," I coo, my eyes glued to her face — and then her backside — as I slide to the side and bow as she walks past me and into the little hut with an annoyed huff.
Have I mentioned how happy I am to be stuck with her instead of Helena or SB? She's just so much more fun to be around than they are.
Hell, Helena would have punched me in the throat for checking her out like that, and SB's too preoccupied with pretending she's not madly in love with her sick little friend back in Ten to be susceptible to my charms. They've both got one-track minds, and there's no room for me in either of them.
Oh well, their loss is Ariadne's gain. All she has to do is stop pretending she doesn't want it. But that'll come in time. I'm sure of it.
"Alfonso, you need to come see this."
"What is it?!" I shout, my mood instantly souring as the early tinglings of a knot start to twist up in the pit of my stomach.
"Just get in here," she snaps, the urgency in her voice piquing my interest as I reluctantly make my way into the hut, where I see Leandra pull Dana behind her and Sentir standing in the middle of the room with a scared and confused look plastered on his face.
"You didn't tell me we had company," I say, my voice low and indifferent, my eyes actively scanning the room for threats as I tighten my grip on my spear and drop into a defensive stance that keeps my body between the three of them and the door.
"They just popped in," she says, her sponsor gift sliding off her back and on the floor behind us as she slides behind me and takes up position across from Dana and Leandra.
"Fair enough. So, how do you wanna play this?" I ask, my voice low and measured as I split my attention between keeping an eye on everyone and coming up with an answer to my own question.
"I don't know," she says, her voice cracking as the reality of what we're about to do starts to settle in.
"Well, you need to hurry up and figure it out. They're not gonna stand there like this forever."
"You know we can hear you, right?" barks Dana, her half-assed attempt at sounding tough falling flat as Leandra shoots her an angry glare before guiding her into a corner so she can protect her better.
"I know that," she says, ignoring Dana's little outburst.
"Then make a choice."
"Fine. I guess — I guess you should take Sentri," she mumbles, her body trembling as she nods in his direction, "and I'll — I'll take Dana and Leandra," she finishes, her voice dropping to a whisper as she struggles to get the words out.
"Sounds good to me," I say, my voice calm and even despite the oppressive feeling of unease and discomfort permeating the room.
"Just be careful — SB and Helena will tear me a new one if you get killed on my watch," I say, my voice low enough that only she can hear me.
"I'll try," she mumbles, her voice trailing off into nothing as she fixes her eyes on Dana and Leandra, rears back, and sends a knife screaming toward them while I turn my attention toward Sentri.
"You don't have to do this, Alfonso," he sobs, his voice weak and shaky, his body trembling with fear as he raises his hands in a sign of surrender and slowly backs away from me. "You don't have to kill me."
I do my best not to listen to him as he begs for his life because I'm genuinely not sure I'll be able to do this if I do. Because I really don't.
I might be here for stupid, selfish reasons, but none of those reasons are to prove how great I am by slaughtering someone who can't defend himself.
There's no honor in that, and I know it. But that doesn't mean I don't have to do it.
"Yeah — I do," I say, my voice low and angry, my eyes locked on his as I fake to my left before lunging right and driving my spear at his chest with a primal yell.
Sentri Baroslav-16 (District 9 Male)
Alfonso screams when he lunges at me. It's short, violent, and so out of character for him that I honestly don't know how to respond. And I think that's the point.
He wants to catch me off guard so he can kill me with as little effort as possible, and he has. And the only thing I can do now is let my instincts take over and hope they save me.
So, that's what I do.
I let my instincts take over, and before I know what's happening, I'm down on my knees with my hands over my head as the tip of Alfonso's spear rips effortlessly through the air and embeds itself in the wall behind me.
"That was a close one," I think, my heart racing as I look up and see the rage in Alfonso's eyes as he glares down at me while struggling to get his spear out of the wall so he can finish me off. "I have to get out of here. But how?"
This is when my instincts take over for a second time as I explode up off my knees and drive my shoulder into Alfonso's gut, forcing the air from his lungs and sending him crashing to the ground in a heap.
This is my chance, and I have to take it. So, after taking a second to catch my breath, I pop back to my feet, jump over Alfonso's writhing body, and sprint towards the door. And that's when I hear the scream.
"SENTRI, WAIT!" screams Leandra, her voice short, sharp, and desperate. "DON'T LEAVE US HERE! PLEASE!"
The logical part of me knows I should ignore her and keep running. She and Dana wouldn't risk their lives to save me if our roles were reversed. So why should I risk mine to save them? Hell, if they were in my shoes, they'd probably be on the other side of the arena by now. And that's where I should be.
But I'm not.
Because the truth is, I'd never be able to forgive myself if I ran away and left them to die like this. Dana might be a selfish bitch who could use a good beating, but she doesn't deserve to die. Neither does Leandra.
"Fuck," I mumble, my heart racing as I do the single dumbest thing imaginable and turn away from the door and start toward my trapped allies. I don't know how I'm gonna save them, but I know I have to try.
I spend the next few seconds trying to decide what to do. And after quickly dismissing the idea of letting my instincts take over and hoping for the best like I did with Alfonso, it hits me, Alfonso is the answer.
He has a spear. I know that because he tried to skewer me with it a few seconds ago. And as long as he still hasn't recovered from my surprise attack, and I can get it out of the wall, I might be able to use it to save Dana and Leandra.
It's not the best idea. But it's the only one I've got.
"SENTRI, HELP US! PLEASE!"
"Hang on, Leandra!" I shout, my body acting on instinct once again as I hop over Alfonso, rip his spear out of the wall, turn around and kick him in the stomach as hard as I can, "Stay down!" before pointing my new weapon at Ariadne.
"Leave them alone!" I yell, my voice and body trembling as I stand here and try to look intimidating while fighting back the urge to throw up. "I said, leave them alone!" I scream, throwing caution to the wind as I lunge at her with my spear.
Ariadne Whitlock-18 (District 4 Female)
I guess I should consider myself lucky that Sentri decided to telegraph the crap out of his attack like that. Because there's a good chance I'd be bleeding out right now if he hadn't.
Seriously, he just missed running me through, and that was with the warning. I can only imagine how much worse this would have been for me if he wasn't a complete moron.
I could be dead right now. And that's a terrifying thought.
But I'm not. And I have Sentri's stupidity to thank for that. I'll have to thank him for that before I kill him and his allies.
Of course, killing them might be a bit of a pipe dream, considering I'm surrounded, and I only have two throwing knives and three enemies to deal with. How the hell did I get myself into this situation? And where's Alfonso?
I know I didn't hear a cannon, so he has to be around here somewhere.
"I said, leave them alone!" he screams, thrusting his spear wildly as he angles me away from Dana and Leandra, allowing them to get out of the corner I had them pinned in and behind him as he slowly forces me into the same corner.
Maybe he's not as stupid as I thought he was.
"Hands off your weapons," he says, his voice low and unsteady as he darts his eyes between my face and a writhing lump on the far side of the room that I can only assume is Alfonso. Well, at least he's still alive. "I said, get your hands off your weapons!"
Or maybe he is. Why hasn't he killed us yet?
"Ok," I say, my voice calm and even as I slide my last two knives back into my bandolier before slowly raising my hands over my head in a sign of surrender. "Calm down, Sentri. There's no reason for this to get violent."
"It's a little late for that, isn't it?" snarls Dana, a small trickle of blood oozing down the left side of her face from a small cut over her eye that I assume she got from one of my many near-miss throws.
"Only if the three of you make a mistake when you don't have to," I say, lowering my hands to head level as I risk a quick glance at Alfonso as he rolls over onto his knees with a pained groan and starts to suck in air as quickly as he can.
I need to keep them talking until Alfonso recovers, or I come up with a way out of this mess.
"Shit, Alfonso's still alive?" asks Leandra. "Why didn't you kill him, Sentri?"
"I thought he was out cold," he growls defensively, the tip of his spear dipping toward the floor as he glances back over his shoulder at Alfonso.
Well, that was easier than I thought it would be.
"Why didn't you check?"
"I was a little busy trying to save you and Dana from Ariadne!"
"And you did a fantastic job of that," I coo sympathetically, my left hand drifting down to my bandolier as I wrap my fingers around the hilt of one of my knives and slide it out while Sentri's not paying attention. "You'd think they'd be more grateful.
"You could have finished off Alfonso and made a break for it while I was busy killing them, and no one would have blamed you. Instead, you saved them. And this is how they thank you. By complaining that you didn't do more."
"That's not what I said," she growls defensively.
"Yes, it is," he snaps, his anger getting the best of him as he stumbles willingly into my trap.
Part of me hates that I'm doing this; because I absolutely despise people who play people against each other like this. I promised myself I would never stoop to this level after Cornelia played me against one of my friends so she could leapfrog me and steal my spot as the primary volunteer for this year's games. But desperate times call for desperate measures.
I'm not ready to die. And if I have to play Sentri against Leandra to keep that from happening, then so be it. Surviving is more important than my principles. I can hate myself later.
And I'm going to. Especially after I do this.
"Who are you trying to fool, Leandra? We all saw what happened, and we heard what you said."
"Shut up, Ariadne!"
"Why should she?!" snaps Sentri, his anger, and frustration finally getting the better of him as he turns his back on me and levels his spear at Leandra. "We all know she's telling the truth. Shutting her up isn't gonna change that."
"What are you doing, Sentri?"
"Something I should have done a long time ago, Leandra. I'm standing up for myself.
"You and Dana have been treating me like shit since we met, and I'm sick of it!"
"This is it; this is the opening I've been waiting for," I think, my stomach churning, my heart pounding like a drum in my ears as I walk up behind Sentri with my hand clenched tightly around the hilt of my knife.
"Sentri, you need to calm down," says Leandra, her voice soft and diplomatic, her hands held out in front of her as she and Dana slowly back away from him. "I'm not the enemy here. They are."
"You know something, Leandra? You're right," I whisper, my voice soft and menacing as I reach around and rip Alfonso's spear away from Sentri's with my right hand before sliding my knife into the soft, peach fuzz-covered flesh of his throat. "I am the enemy here."
~BOOM~